Includes bibliographical references.

Confronting New Challenges Knut Ipsen and International Humanitarian Law; Asymmetrical Warfare and International Humanitarian Law; 'The end justifies the means' -- Should this be the philosophy?; Comment: Is the Principle of Distinction Outdated?; Asymmetries and the Identification of Legitimate Military Objectives; Targeting Hearts and Minds: National Will and Other Legitimate Military Objectives of Modern War; The United Kingdom and Legitimate Military Objectives: Current Practice ... and Future Trends?; The System of Status Groups in International Humanitarian Law.

Recent armed conflicts, whether international or non-international in character, are in many respects characterized by a variety of asymmetries. These asymmetries may be overstressed, sometime even abused, and ultimately virtually meaningless. Still, either as such or in conjunction with other developments, they seem to challenge the law of armed conflicts or: international humanitarian law. These challenges may very well compromise the very function of that body of law, which is to mitigate as far as possible the calamities of war. Thus, the law of armed conflict may be deprived of its fundam.